Design Validation of Omnidirectional Wheels Intended for VirtuSphere using ANSYS Simulation

VirtuSphere (VS) is a mechanical platform destinated to allow users to move freely while using Virtual Reality (VR). The authors proposed in a previous study a solution to improve the feeling of immersion while using VS by adding two in-wheel motors. During the development of the mechatronic system, the authors noticed its weakness points and identified possibilities to improve the initial concept. Thus, an omnidirectional wheel was designed and developed to eliminate lateral slip friction. Following this study, in this article is presented the validation of design for an omnidirectional wheel using simulation. The characteristics of the mechanical components were determined by calculation. Based on these calculations the authors analyze the concept and material characteristics to validate the proposed design.